Save your back: ditch the messenger bag, get a backpack

For a decade or so, I carried a messenger bag with me pretty much wherever I went - school, work, as an overnight bag, on vacations, etc. The load ranged anywhere from a couple pounds to ten or more. For that decade, I also had nonstop back pain.

On a whim, I found a clearance-rack backpack with a compartment that perfectly fit my camera bag. I got home, moved everything from the messenger bag to the backpack and within a couple days, about 80% of my back pain disappeared. The only back pain I still had was from training and a couple modifications eliminated most of that as well.

The short version of why I had so much trouble is that the messenger bag introduces an off-balance load to your back. And the loose-and-low way that many people wear them tends to exacerbate the problem. So, as you walk, you have a weight pulling your back to one side and you need to lean/pull to the other side to keep your back straight, which throws all sorts of things off of alignment, leading to the back pain.

There will be those who say, "well, just wear the thing nice and tight and switch shoulders every now and then." I can understand the theory, but it seems to me kind of like waiting until you're thirsty to drink - by that time you've already incurred the unwanted effects. Why choose being less hurt when you can just as easily choose not hurt?

Anyway, I put the backpack on, went out and realized two things: 1: Back wasn't hurting and 2: Over the course of more years (and co-payments and increased premiums) than I care to admit of chiropractor visits not once did he or his massage therapists tell me to get rid of the messenger bag and get a backpack, despite me wearing the thing nearly every time I went in.

So much for the experts.

The backpack, of course, keeps the load distributed over both shoulders (and if you get a funky one like I did, you've also got a sternum strap and belt to help keep the load in place). Just make sure you have both shoulder straps on. One strap defeats the purpose and puts you back into uneven loading territory.

The next step of course, is figuring out what backpack to get. The first one I got ended up being absolutely terrible (it was a Sumdex, don't buy them) - the lining ripped immediately, the fasteners on the straps failed at inopportune moments, the zippers kept falling off-track and finally broke while I was sitting on a bus, leaving me and several thousand dollars of rented (and now exposed) camera gear to cross a very large and very thug-filled parking lot and el stop.

Apropos of nothing, I spent a lot of time looking for a new bag and settled on the S.O.C. 3-Day Pass (figuring that a soldier would have the most stringent requirements in a self-purchased bag. It also comes in ACUPAT which gives it a certain rivethead chic). Surprisingly reasonable in price, but about as tough as I can imagine and it displays incredible attention to detail (I think the military-nerd term is "overengineered"). The more I wear it, the more I notice little things that at first seem superfluous, but turn out to be thoughtful and helpful. Now I just need to find a "Death From Above" patch to put on it.

For those not wanting to walk around looking like they call their friends "operators" they also make normal looking backpacks.

Update to the Kershaw Ken Onion Leek Review

Slight update to the Kershaw Ken Onion Leek Review. For some reason, the screws won't bite when I reverse the pocket clip. The overall functionality of the knife isn't affected, but it is a little annoying.

Michael Jai White and Kimbo on staying tight

This is a cool little video on the importance of moving in straight lines and not ooking.





















There are a lot of things going on here: simple, straight and direct economy of movement allows you, first and foremost, to increase your hit percentage - that is the sheer number of shots landed. And since "putting fist to face as often as possible" is the name of the game, why not make it easier on yourself.*

Beginners especially have a hard time throwing non-telegraphing punches. Going from my own experience and training others, it's largely a matter of wanting to see results. It's all fine and well to throw straight jabs, but it doesn't feel like there's anything behind them. Ooking to bring the fist back towards you and then leaning forward to throw your weight behind the punch is much more satisfying. Unfortunately, an opponent who has even decent footwork and a good eye for catching these ooks will be able to avoid a large number of punches, which leads to frustration on the part of the attacker which often leads to a further degradation of technique.... An opponent who has good timing will be able to counter into the punches, making life very difficult for the attacker.

As one progresses in their training, speed, timing and accuracy will become more and more important than raw power for punching effectiveness. Ooking will erode all three of those traits, making life difficult.


Since most of us were beginners at one point and beginners tend to ook...I'd wager that most if not all of us have a tendency to telegraph punches much more than we suspect. The solution of course, is to get humble and stand in front of the bag perfectly still, throwing hundreds and hundreds of jabs until that gets ironed out. Then, doing mitt drills and having your partner watch for the ooking. Then sparring. A little visualization might help too.

It can be awfully frustrating to spend round after round shadow boxing and working the bags while essentially remaining still, but the energy conservation and ability to throw stiff, straight shots without thinking about it really helps when you start doing your 100, 200 and 300 punch count rounds.

* I'm paraphrasing from Dan Hardy in the prefight talk before the GSP fight.